Point-of-care testing of proteins

Point-of-care testing (POCT) is a fast developing area in clinical diagnostics that is considered to be one of the main driving forces for the future in vitro diagnostic market. POCT means decentralized testing at the site of patient care. The most important POCT devices are handheld blood glucose sensors. In some of these sensors, after the application of less than 1 μl whole blood, the results are displayed in less than 10 s. For protein determination, the most commonly used devices are based on lateral flow technology. Although these devices are convenient to use, the results are often only qualitative or semiquantitative. The review will illuminate some of the current methods employed in POCT for proteins and will discuss the outlook for techniques (e.g., electrochemical immunosensors) that could have a great impact on future POCT of proteins.     

Carbon‐Nanotube Based Electrochemical Biosensors: A Review

This review addresses recent advances in carbon‐nanotubes (CNT) based electrochemical biosensors. The unique chemical and physical properties of CNT have paved the way to new and improved sensing devices, in general, and electrochemical biosensors, in particular. CNT‐based electrochemical transducers offer substantial improvements in the performance of amperometric enzyme electrodes, immunosensors and nucleic‐acid sensing devices. The greatly enhanced electrochemical reactivity of hydrogen peroxide and NADH at CNT‐modified electrodes makes these nanomaterials extremely attractive for numerous oxidase‐ and dehydrogenase‐based amperometric biosensors. Aligned CNT “forests” can act as molecular wires to allow efficient electron transfer between the underlying electrode and the redox centers of enzymes. Bioaffinity devices utilizing enzyme tags can greatly benefit from the enhanced response of the biocatalytic‐reaction product at the CNT transducer and from CNT amplification platforms carrying multiple tags. Common designs of CNT‐based biosensors are discussed, along with practical examples of such devices. The successful realization of CNT‐based biosensors requires proper control of their chemical and physical properties, as well as their functionalization and surface immobilization.     

Alkaline Phosphatase-based Electrochemical Analysis for Point-of-Care Testing

Point-of-care testing (POCT) devices have evolved to provide beneficial information about an individual's health whenever needed. Enzyme-based analytical devices have facilitated the highly selective detection of numerous biological molecules and ions. Enzymes are commonly used as the tags of recognition components, such as antibodies, to generate and amplify detection signals. Particularly, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) is one of the most widely used enzymes because of its high turnover number and low cost. Rapid response time and the incorporation of many sensors fabricated by micro/nano processing technologies are the advantages in using electrochemical devices as analytical tools. Therefore, ALP-based electrochemical devices have potential applications for more practical POCT platforms. This review summarizes recent research progress of ALP-based electrochemical devices for POCT. In addition to ALP substrates, the application of ALP-based immunosensors, aptasensors, and DNAzyme sensors are discussed.     

Point‐of‐Care Smartphone‐based Electrochemical Biosensing

Point‐of‐care (PoC) biosensors offer promising solutions to today's adverse and costly healthcare issues by moving diagnostic tools closer to the patient. The ubiquity of smartphones has brought about an emergence of PoC devices, which leverage the smartphone's capabilities, enabling the creation of low‐cost and portable biosensors. Electrochemical biosensors are well suited for PoC testing since the transducers can be miniaturized and inexpensively fabricated. This review paper discusses recent developments in smartphone‐based electrochemical biosensors for PoC diagnostics. These peripherals utilize the various connectivity options (for example proprietary ports, audio headphone‐jack, or wireless radio) to offload functionality to the smartphone. The smartphone‐based implementations of various electrochemical techniques, such as amperometry, potentiometry, and impedance spectroscopy are explored. Major challenges include reducing power, area, and cost of measurement circuitry, while maintaining adequate performance for PoC diagnostic applications.     

Miniaturized electrochemical sensors and their point-of-care applications

Most of the current analytical methods depend largely on laboratory-based analytical techniques that require expensive and bullky equipment,potentially incur costly testing,and involve lengthy detection processes.With increasing requirements for point-of-care testing(POCT),more attention has been paid to miniaturized analytical devices.Miniaturized electrochemical(MEC)sensors,including different material-based MEC sensors(such as DNA-,paper-,and screen electrode-based),have been in strong demand in analytical science due to their easy operation,portability,high sensitivity,as well as their short analysis time.They have been applied for the detection of trace amounts of target through measuring changes in electrochemical signal,such as current,voltage,potential,or impedance,due to the oxidation/reduction of chemical/biological molecules with the help of electrodes and electrochemical units.MEC sensors present great potential for the detection of targets including small organic molecules,metal ions,and biomolecules.In recent years,MEC sensors have been broadly applied to POCT in various fields,including health care,food safety,and environmental monitoring,owing to the excellent advantages of electrochemical(EC)technologies.This review summarized the state-of-the-art advancements on various types of MEC sensors and their applications in POCT.Furthermore,the future perspectives,opportunities,and challenges in this field are also discussed.     

S‐Click Reaction for Isotropic Orientation of Oxidases on Electrodes to Promote Electron Transfer at Low Potentials

Electrochemical sensors are essential for point‐of‐care testing (POCT) and wearable sensing devices. Establishing an efficient electron transfer route between redox enzymes and electrodes is key for converting enzyme‐catalyzed reactions into electrochemical signals, and for the development of robust, sensitive, and selective biosensors. We demonstrate that the site‐specific incorporation of a novel synthetic amino acid (2‐amino‐3‐(4‐mercaptophenyl)propanoic acid) into redox enzymes, followed by an S‐click reaction to wire the enzyme to the electrode, facilitates electron transfer. The fabricated biosensor demonstrated real‐time and selective monitoring of tryptophan (Trp) in blood and sweat samples, with a linear range of 0.02–0.8 mm . Further developments along this route may result in dramatic expansion of portable electrochemical sensors for diverse health‐determination molecules.     

An Overview of Wearable and Implantable Electrochemical Glucose Sensors

Electrochemical glucose sensors have garnered considerable attention because of their attractive prospect in point-of-care testing (POCT). In this review, we firstly introduce the principles and challenges of electrochemical glucose sensors. Subsequently, we present an overview of the application of electrochemical glucose sensors and discuss their advantages and drawbacks. Wearable and implantable devices based on diverse target biofluid and platforms provide a considerable prospect of accurate and continuous monitoring. Thus, we believe that the future development direction of electrochemical glucose sensors is non-invasive, wearable devices and implantable devices with minimally invasive for continuous glucose monitoring in real time.     

Functionalized carbon nanotubes and nanofibers for biosensing applications

This review summarizes recent advances in electrochemical biosensors based on carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and carbon nanofibers (CNFs) with an emphasis on applications of CNTs. CNTs and CNFs have unique electric, electrocatalytic and mechanical properties, which make them efficient materials for developing electrochemical biosensors.We discuss functionalizing CNTs for biosensors. We review electrochemical biosensors based on CNTs and their various applications (e.g., measurement of small biological molecules and environmental pollutants, detection of DNA, and immunosensing of disease biomarkers). Moreover, we outline the development of electrochemical biosensors based on CNFs and their applications. Finally, we discuss some future applications of CNTs.     

Application of MXene in Electrochemical Sensors: A Review

Electroanalysis has obtained considerable progress over the past few years, especially in the field of electrochemical sensors. Broadly speaking, electrochemical sensors include not only conventional electrochemical biosensors or non-biosensors, but also emerging electrochemiluminescence (ECL) sensors and photoelectrochemical (PEC) sensors which are both combined with optical methods. In addition, various electrochemical sensing devices have been developed for practical purposes, such as multiplexed simultaneous detection of disease-related biomarkers and non-invasive body fluid monitoring. For the further performance improvement of electrochemical sensors, material is crucial. Recent years, a kind of two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterial MXene containing transition metal carbides, nitrides and carbonitrides, with unique structural, mechanical, electronic, optical, and thermal properties, have attracted a lot of attention form analytical chemists, and widely applied in electrochemical sensors. Here, we reviewed electrochemical sensors based on MXene from Nov. 2014 (when the first work about electrochemical sensor based on MXene published) to Mar. 2021, dividing them into different types as electrochemical biosensors, electrochemical non-biosensors, electrochemiluminescence sensors, photoelectrochemical sensors and flexible sensors. We believe this review will be of help to those who want to design or develop electrochemical sensors based on MXene, hoping new inspirations could be sparked.     

Smart functionalized thin gel layers for electrochemical sensors,biosensors and devices

Combining hydrogels sensitive to external stimuli with conducting surfaces opens new possibilities in electrochemistry. Thin hydrogel layers as unique electrode-modifying materials provide highly permeable matrix for easy diffusion of analytes. In addition, larger individuals, for example, nanoparticles and enzymes, can be straightforwardly immobilized in the polymeric networks at electrode surfaces. Such properties are strongly desired for construction of sensors and biosensors. In addition, sensitivity to external stimuli allows to significantly enhance or weaken the electroanalytical signal. Recently, a significant number of articles concerning switchable sensors/biosensors, switchable electrochemical systems and signal–responsive interfaces have been published. This report is also focused on the construction of various devices based on electrode surfaces modified with smart hydrogel layers, for example, logic gates and electroresponsive hydrogel layers as potentially advanced drug delivery systems, artificial muscles and electrochemical valves.     

Recent advances on the development of graphene-based field-effect transistors,electrochemical biosensors and electrochemiluminescence biosensors

Graphene, a honeycomb lattice of carbon material with single-atom-layer structure, demonstrates extraordinary mechanical, thermal, chemical and electronic properties. Thus, it has sparked tremendous interests in various fields, such as energy storage and conversion devices, field-effect transistors (FET), chemical sensors and biosensors. In this review, we will first focus on the synthesis method of graphene and the fabrication strategy of graphene-based materials. Subsequently, the construction of graphene-based biosensors are introduced, in which three kinds of biosensors are discussed in details, including the FET, electrochemical biosensors and electrochemiluminescence (ECL) biosensors. The performances of the state-of-the-art biosensors on the detection of biomolecules are also displayed. Finally, we also highlight some critical challenges remain to be solved and the development in this field for further research.     

基于纳米材料的电化学免疫传感器在传染性病原体POCT中的应用

传染性病原体POCT对于及时有效控制传染病尤为关键。相比于传统检测方法,基于电化学免疫传感器的传染性病原体检测具有快速、灵敏、准确、易于小型化和集成化等优势,尤其适用于传染病POCT。新兴的纳米材料因其独特的理化性质可用于修饰传感器界面或作为生物分子的固载基质以及信号标记物等,有助于构建出高选择性和高灵敏度的电化学免疫传感器。在本文中,我们着重阐述了不同结构的纳米材料修饰的电化学免疫传感器在传染性病原体POCT检测中的应用,进一步介绍了基于纳米材料的电化学免疫传感器与不同检测技术联用在传染性病原体POCT中的应用,并对其发展前景做出了展望。     

Third-generation biosensors based on the direct electron transfer of proteins.

Recent progress in third-generation electrochemical biosensors based on the direct electron transfer of proteins is reviewed. The development of three generations of electrochemical biosensors is also simply addressed. Special attention is paid to protein-film voltammetry, which is a powerful way to obtain the direct electron transfer of proteins. Research activities on various kinds of biosensors are discussed according to the proteins (enzymes) used in the specific work.     

Application of Nanoparticles in Electrochemical Sensors and Biosensors

The unique chemical and physical properties of nanoparticles make them extremely suitable for designing new and improved sensing devices, especially electrochemical sensors and biosensors. Many kinds of nanoparticles, such as metal, oxide and semiconductor nanoparticles have been used for constructing electrochemical sensors and biosensors, and these nanoparticles play different roles in different sensing systems. The important functions provided by nanoparticles include the immobilization of biomolecules, the catalysis of electrochemical reactions, the enhancement of electron transfer between electrode surfaces and proteins, labeling of biomolecules and even acting as reactant. This minireview addresses recent advances in nanoparticle‐based electrochemical sensors and biosensors, and summarizes the main functions of nanoparticles in these sensor systems.     

New advances in electrochemical biosensors for the detection of toxins: Nanomaterials,magnetic beads and microfluidics systems. A review

The use of nanotechnology in bioanalytical devices has special advantages in the detection of toxins of interest in food safety and environmental applications. The low levels to be detected and the small size of toxins justify the increasing number of publications dealing with electrochemical biosensors, due to their high sensitivity and design versatility. The incorporation of nanomaterials in their development has been exploited to further increase their sensitivity, providing simple and fast devices, with multiplexed capabilities. This paper gives an overview of the electrochemical biosensors that have incorporated carbon and metal nanomaterials in their configurations for the detection of toxins. Biosensing systems based on magnetic beads or integrated into microfluidics systems have also been considered because of their contribution to the development of compact analytical devices. The roles of these materials, the methods used for their incorporation in the biosensor configurations as well as the advantages they provide to the analyses are summarised.     

Stabilized Lipid Films in Electrochemical Biosensors

Lipid membrane based electrochemical biosensors have been exploited for the last 40 years. However, a major obstacle that limited their applications and commercialization was their fragility. Recent advances in stabilization of lipid membranes have tremendously increased the number of publications in the last 5 years. The objective of the present article is to present procedures for the stabilization of lipid film biosensors and recent advances in their analytical uses. These novel devices are used as chemo‐ and biosensors for the quantification of environmental contaminants and food toxicants. Recent research is directed to the construction of a portable mini electrochemical device that will be commercialized and readily be used by non‐skilled personnel for in the field measurements.     

Graphene as signal amplifier for preparation of ultrasensitive electrochemical biosensors

Early diagnosis of diseases with minimal cost and time-consumption has become achievable due to recent advances in the development of biosensors. These devices use biorecognition elements for the selective interaction with an analyte and the signal read-out is obtained via different types of transducers. The operational characteristics of biosensors have been reported as improving substantially when a diverse range of nanomaterials is employed. This review presents the construction of electrochemical biosensors based on graphene, atomically thin 2D carbon crystals, a nanomaterial currently the subject of intensive studies. Here, the most attractive directions for graphene applications in biosensor preparation are discussed, including novel detection and amplification schemes exploiting graphene’s unique electrochemical, physical and chemical properties. There is probably a very bright future for graphene-based biosensors, but much further work is required to fulfill the high expectations.     

Nanomaterial-based electrochemical DNA sensing strategies

DNA sensing strategies have recently been varieted with the number of attempts at the development of different biosensor devices based on nanomaterials, which will further become DNA microchip systems. The investigations at the side of material science in connection with electrochemical biosensors open new directions for detection of specific gene sequences, and nucleic acid-ligand interactions.An overview is reported here about nanomaterial-based electrochemical DNA sensing strategies principally performed for the analysis of specific DNA sequences and the quantification of nucleic acids. Important features of electrochemical DNA sensing strategies, along with new developments based on nanomaterials are described and discussed.     

Recent Progress on the Development of Biofuel Cells for Self‐Powered Electrochemical Biosensing and Logic Biosensing: A Review

Biofuel cells (BFCs) based on enzymes and microorganisms have been recently received considerable attention because they are recognized as an attractive type of energy conversion technology. In addition to the research activities related to the application of BFCs as power source, we have witnessed recently a growing interest in using BFCs for self‐powered electrochemical biosensing and electrochemical logic biosensing applications. Compared with traditional biosensors, one of the most significant advantages of the BFCs‐based self‐powered electrochemical biosensors and logic biosensors is their ability to detect targets integrated with chemical‐to‐electrochemical energy transformation, thus obviating the requirement of external power sources. Following my previous review (Electroanalysis­ 2012 , 24, 197–209), the present review summarizes, discusses and updates the most recent progress and latest advances on the design and construction of BFCs‐based self‐powered electrochemical biosensors and logic biosensors. In addition to the traditional approaches based on substrate effect, inhibition effect, blocking effect and gene regulation effect for BFCs‐based self‐powered electrochemical biosensors and logic biosensors design, some new principles including enzyme effect, co‐stabilization effect, competition effect and hybrid effect are summarized and discussed by me in details. The outlook and recommendation of future directions of BFCs‐based self‐powered electrochemical biosensors and logic biosensors are discussed in the end.     

In Vivo Electrochemical Biosensors for Reactive Oxygen Species Detection: A Mini-Review

Due to the significance of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in numerous physiological processes including pathogen response, apoptosis, and induction of defense genes, various methods have been developed for their quantitative analysis. However, the conventional methods using exogenous tracers lack the capability to conduct real-time in vivo measurements. The electrochemical biosensors have shown their potentials for in vivo applications with the rapid and reagentless detection processes. In this article, electrochemical biosensors that are capable of making in vivo ROS detections are reviewed. The different configurations of these biosensors with corresponding strategies to enhance sensitivity and selectivity are discussed in detail. With further studies to promote the biosensor performance, these devices promise to provide more facile ways for ROS research in life sciences.